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After the COVID-19 pandemic, the world saw a new trend: “WORK FROM HOME.” But now, due to the immense comfort level, it’s becoming a common way of living. You do everything from setting a work schedule to managing finances in this job. In short, one person does freelance work. But if one person is doing everything, then it can limit growth. Many people have adopted freelance as their career, but it’s time to find growth in this career. So, let’s start with the basic concept and then move to the ultimate boost, where you can convert it into a business.
What is freelancing? Definition of a freelancer:
Freelancing is working for yourself, where you are the boss and decide how much work you want to do. So, this type of work can be done remotely, which is the best advantage of freelance work. However, if you want to do freelance work, you only need a laptop and an internet connection. The life of a freelancer is challenging and rewarding at the same time. For instance, in some months, you will have to struggle mentally and financially, and sometimes it will be all good. The person who does the freelance work is known as a freelancer, self-employed or independent contractor. These workers usually work on several projects at once and manage everything independently.
Pros & cons of freelancing:
Freelancing is not all rainbows and unicorns. Like other careers, there are rewards and challenges. So, there are many variables that we should consider before making it a full-time living and converting it into a business. Here are the primary positive and negative features of doing freelance business:
| Pros | Cons |
| Flexible work schedule | Inconsistent income |
| You always learn something new | Less job security |
| Clients get quality work | Excessive work is mentally exhausting |
| You are your boss | No job benefits |
| No office politics and extra time waste | Extra work cause burnout |
| You can choose clients on your own | There is no line between personal and professional life |
| You can work from anywhere | You will have to handle multiple clients at once |
So, choosing freelance business as a career should be a calculated decision as it comes with certain benefits and challenges.
How to start a freelance business in this competitive market?
Some people run a freelance as a side hustle other than their full-time corporate job. In this type of company, freelancers provide B2B, individual-level services. So, follow these tips to run a successful freelance business because now this market has become much more competitive.
Define long and short-term goals:
Before getting into the freelance business, it’s crucial to define goals that will provide a base for your business. But you will soon be derailed if you don’t have goals and a proper business plan. Here are a few questions that you should ask yourself before getting on this bandwagon:
- Are you going to adopt this as a full-time career?
- Do you want to earn extra money through this career?
- Is freelancing your passion or just an additional way to make money?
After asking these questions, your mindset will be clear, and you can move forward in the right direction. Apart from this, it’s the best way to narrow down a niche.
Identify your niche and clients:
After drafting goals, the next move is to list down all the niches in which you have an interest and expertise. These are the critical factors that can make or break any business. Finding clients in the early days of business would take much work, but you can do this by moving in the right direction. In addition, it’s good if you can narrow down the type of clients that can go best with your abilities. Before choosing your clients, ask these questions:
- What are your targeted businesses?
- Can they afford your rates?
After finding answers, you can choose easy customers to work with. The only aim is to go a long way and win customers’ trust.
Determine pay rate & do marketing:
If you want a career in any business, decide the pay rate against your expertise. But before determining the pace, remember to search the market and find out what your competitors offer. Furthermore, if hiring a team, it’s better to use a paystub generator for payroll management. The other key to gaining clients is to market your expertise because you can’t win customers without it. Here are the top ways to advertise yourself:
| Advertise your strengths | Answer all the questions of your competitors |
| Use case studies to know how to win clients’ trust. | Make your cover letter appealing. |
Moreover, you can take the help of digital means to do the marketing of your freelance business. For instance, using social media and paid ads can make a big difference.
Build portfolio:
The next thing is to build a portfolio because no one will trust your abilities without it. So, assemble a few samples of your best work, as the first impression is the last. If you don’t have skills, you can master them by taking a course. Here are high-income skills that you can learn at home. In addition, your portfolio should have these pointers to increase effectiveness:
- Display your work on the website
- List down your contact information
- Build a personal connection with the client
- Highlight your education, skills, and hobbies
- Add reviews from your past clients
Apart from this, it’s vital to update the skills regularly. You can visit the competitor’s website if you need inspiration.
Choose business structure & register:
After deciding everything, the next step is to choose a structure and register your company. You can determine the type of company, whether it’s going to LLC or sole proprietorship. However, after deciding the type follow these steps to register the company:
- Provide the name & address of the business
- The time for how long the business is offering services
- Name and address of the registered agent
- Purpose of your business
Usually, small businesses only need to register with federal agencies if there is a need for trademark protection. After completing all these steps, the next move is to finalize deals and earn money.
Conclusion:
Before conclusion, tax season could be challenging for freelancers. So, you should file taxes as a business owner. But as a freelancer, you do more business expenses than others; that’s why you can file for more deductions like:
- Food expenses in the company
- Travel
- Upskilling
- Office expenses
- Home office expenses
- Utilities
After saving money, the golden tip for freelancers is consistency and quality of work. So, start freelancing with an open mind and use different freelance platforms to find clients.
